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The proverbs talks about this sort of striving for knowledge and wisdom:
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
(Pro 2:1-5)
However, it's funny about Psalm 23, but as a child it confused me more than anything else!
Maybe I am just a very literal person, but I just could not understand it.
I mean "the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"- so I don't want this Shepherd, why don't I want him?
"He makes me lie down in green pastures" Yuck wet grass!
"He leads me beside still waters" stagnant water!
... "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;" that would just give me indigestion!
"you anoint my head with oil;" wow a bit messy!
"my cup overflows." very messy!!
It took me years to get the poetic symbolism of this Psalm!
I just remembered that we as well had to memorize Psalm 23 in second grade. It was a secular school in rural Germany. I pray that this seed that was planted 24 years ago might see fruit in the lives of those other students too.
The proverbs talks about this sort of striving for knowledge and wisdom:
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
(Pro 2:1-5)
However, it's funny about Psalm 23, but as a child it confused me more than anything else!
Maybe I am just a very literal person, but I just could not understand it.
I mean "the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"- so I don't want this Shepherd, why don't I want him?
"He makes me lie down in green pastures" Yuck wet grass!
"He leads me beside still waters" stagnant water!
... "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;" that would just give me indigestion!
"you anoint my head with oil;" wow a bit messy!
"my cup overflows." very messy!!
It took me years to get the poetic symbolism of this Psalm!
Thanks for sharing this. I too had to memorize psalm 23. Thanks for breaking down the verses for me.
You are welcome. 🙏
I just remembered that we as well had to memorize Psalm 23 in second grade. It was a secular school in rural Germany. I pray that this seed that was planted 24 years ago might see fruit in the lives of those other students too.
I’m sure that seed was planted. 🙏